A wooden spear was found by archaeologists in Little Salt Springs in Sarasota, Florida. The spring has no oxygen in it, so things are very well preserved there. The wooden spear has been carbon dated to 12 thousand years ago. According to traditional anthropological thinking, humans did not reach Florida until about 9 thousand years ago. O.O
The archaeologists will be searching the same area of the spring in July to see if they can find more artifacts.
Other interesting recent finds: A prehistoric, 1100 year old canoe has been uncovered in the sand on Weedon Island in Pinellas County (that's near St. Pete and Clearwater). It was found by a local man, who reported the find to authorities at which time professional archaeologist took over the job of uncovering it. It was originally about 45 feet long, the longest ancient canoe ever found in Florida.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Just a reminder:
Made by dodger_winslow on livejournal... who I do not know... but look at the pretteh!
'Cause, seriously, our fandom does Win at Life. It's very true.
In other news, I got my yarn from KnitPicks. It's awesome! And I can't wait to get into it... There will be a post later with pics...
And KnitPicks is evil! OMG! Look they have new lace yarn samplers!! The downside to these is that there are no patterns for each skein, so one would have to come up with their own idea for each different color. Which to me is a major downside.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
A Quiz! Yay!
from Ilana...
I got two answers. Apparently this happens sometimes:
I got two answers. Apparently this happens sometimes:
My sphere is Guardian (Person of great Love and Altruism), and my class is Defender (Peaceful, yet Potent).
I am a Warden.
To be a Warden is to be the ultimate Guardian. Whether a physical Guardian or an essential Guardian, is up to you. You may be both. To be a physical Guardian is to be a living, breathing testament to the love you carry for a person, or people, whose lives you will always defend if you possibly can. To be an essential Guardian is to be a living, breathing testament to the security that your wards seek, and will look to you for your always kind, always nurturing support.
What kind of Warrior are you? My sphere is Guardian (Person of great Love and Altruism), and my class is Rogue (Precise and Unhindered).
I am a Protector.
You won't let anything or anyone threaten the ones you love if you have anything to say about it -- and you aren't afraid to back that up by any means possible. You might get your hands dirty in your life. You might do things that more lawful people would question. But there is no doubt in your mind that what you are doing is right, and you will have no regrets. To be a Protector is to shed many layers of "status quo," of "morality," and, to a degree, of honor, in order to dedicate yourself to the protection of your love in any way you can. You are a truly rare breed. You are loved in return for your great dedication by the people who value you. You know how to keep secrets, and uphold your word.
What kind of Warrior are you?Sunday, April 27, 2008
*nerdy squeal*
I found Skyr in the grocery store! *squeal* ... Okay, I will explain, because I'm sure very few people outside of Iceland and maybe Scandinavia and Canada have ever heard of this stuff...
Skyr is the national dish of Iceland according to the Icelandic Tourist Board. It's a very, very soft fat-free cheese. This package that I'm looking at calls it a yogurt, but it's actually a cheese. It's very thick, thicker than the thickest sour cream, but not as thick as cream cheese. It's somewhere in between them. And it taste a little like sour cream or plain yogurt. But it's completely fat-free, and very high in calcium and protein, and always made from skim milk. There are three ingredients in plain skyr: skim milk (preferably unpasteurized cow's or sheep's milk, if we're being strictly traditional), live cultures and rennet. That's it. No sugar, no artificial anything. It is yum! I do like it! Skyr that's made from sheep's milk is naturally sweeter than that made from cow's milk, but I think the idea of cow's milk is probably more palatable to Americans, so the skyr that I found at the grocery store is made from cow's milk.
Next question would be, why am I spazzing out over it? Well, it's a very old kind of cheese and therefore it makes my inner (who am I kidding? there's no "inner" about it!) history geek scream and bounce around for joy. The Vikings pretty much subsisted most of the year on skyr, fish and other dairy products in Iceland. They had some limited types of vegetables (potatoes might be big there now, but they didn't have them in the 9th century - or for some time after the 9th century - obviously) that could be grown, but grain could not be grown there (as it was too cold, even for rye), at least not ever in any quantity, so most if not all of their grain was imported from mainland Europe or the British Isles, and so grain couldn't be as much of a staple of their diet as it was in other parts of Europe. They made bread, beer and porridge out of the grain. Which might be why one of the traditional ways to eat skyr is stirred in equal amounts with porridge. You can take a look at the traditional Icelandic foods listed at wikipedia and see what kinds of fish and meat dishes they ate. I can tell you, I don't think I would want to try most of them ever, even on a dare or if paid. And why they didn't use some of this stuff on Fear Factor, I don't know. 'Cause it's definitely Fear Factor material. Not that I ever watched that show, so maybe they did use some of these things.
Traditionally, skyr keeps well without refrigeration, although, the people who regulate such things in the US recommend refrigeration because there are no preservatives added to it. It does have some sodium, but only that which is naturally occurring in milk.
Skyr came about through innovation and desperation in an environment where everything edible needed to be put to good use. Butter was an excellent way of preserving the fats in milk, and blocks of butter could be and actually were used as a kind of currency (since they were also easy to store, weigh and transport). Viking women would spend a lot of time making heavily salted butter and cheese, which obviously, produced a lot of skim milk and whey. Whey, I'm not sure what they did with it, other than they could have drank it as it was. But the skim milk they could preserve for months at a time very effectively by making it into skyr. And so, they did.
And I finally got to try some today. hee! *blissfully geeked out*
That is all. :D
Skyr is the national dish of Iceland according to the Icelandic Tourist Board. It's a very, very soft fat-free cheese. This package that I'm looking at calls it a yogurt, but it's actually a cheese. It's very thick, thicker than the thickest sour cream, but not as thick as cream cheese. It's somewhere in between them. And it taste a little like sour cream or plain yogurt. But it's completely fat-free, and very high in calcium and protein, and always made from skim milk. There are three ingredients in plain skyr: skim milk (preferably unpasteurized cow's or sheep's milk, if we're being strictly traditional), live cultures and rennet. That's it. No sugar, no artificial anything. It is yum! I do like it! Skyr that's made from sheep's milk is naturally sweeter than that made from cow's milk, but I think the idea of cow's milk is probably more palatable to Americans, so the skyr that I found at the grocery store is made from cow's milk.
Next question would be, why am I spazzing out over it? Well, it's a very old kind of cheese and therefore it makes my inner (who am I kidding? there's no "inner" about it!) history geek scream and bounce around for joy. The Vikings pretty much subsisted most of the year on skyr, fish and other dairy products in Iceland. They had some limited types of vegetables (potatoes might be big there now, but they didn't have them in the 9th century - or for some time after the 9th century - obviously) that could be grown, but grain could not be grown there (as it was too cold, even for rye), at least not ever in any quantity, so most if not all of their grain was imported from mainland Europe or the British Isles, and so grain couldn't be as much of a staple of their diet as it was in other parts of Europe. They made bread, beer and porridge out of the grain. Which might be why one of the traditional ways to eat skyr is stirred in equal amounts with porridge. You can take a look at the traditional Icelandic foods listed at wikipedia and see what kinds of fish and meat dishes they ate. I can tell you, I don't think I would want to try most of them ever, even on a dare or if paid. And why they didn't use some of this stuff on Fear Factor, I don't know. 'Cause it's definitely Fear Factor material. Not that I ever watched that show, so maybe they did use some of these things.
Traditionally, skyr keeps well without refrigeration, although, the people who regulate such things in the US recommend refrigeration because there are no preservatives added to it. It does have some sodium, but only that which is naturally occurring in milk.
Skyr came about through innovation and desperation in an environment where everything edible needed to be put to good use. Butter was an excellent way of preserving the fats in milk, and blocks of butter could be and actually were used as a kind of currency (since they were also easy to store, weigh and transport). Viking women would spend a lot of time making heavily salted butter and cheese, which obviously, produced a lot of skim milk and whey. Whey, I'm not sure what they did with it, other than they could have drank it as it was. But the skim milk they could preserve for months at a time very effectively by making it into skyr. And so, they did.
And I finally got to try some today. hee! *blissfully geeked out*
That is all. :D
O.O
I am agog! Look ---->
KnitPicks Summer Yarn Samplers
Would it surpise you if I said I ordered all three? Plus, some sock yarn to make these in order to get free shipping?
In other news, apparently magknits.com has disappeared? I am very sad about this.
KnitPicks Summer Yarn Samplers
Would it surpise you if I said I ordered all three? Plus, some sock yarn to make these in order to get free shipping?
In other news, apparently magknits.com has disappeared? I am very sad about this.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Happy Earth Day, everyone!!
I didn't do a thing for it today today, other than tend the garden. But my mom is a science teacher, so she had a great ecological curriculum for today. She taught about the benefits of recycling, hanging laundry to dry outside rather than using a dryer, using reusable bags for groceries rather than paper or plastic, and how solar power works. She said the kids really seemed into it, and she was surprised by the number of kids who said their parents use the reusable bags and hang their laundry out.
Also all the public and charter schools in our county planted at least 38 trees given to them by the forestry service in honor of the 38th Earth Day. Nearly 6,000 trees (FTW! \o/) were planted between 11am - 12pm all over the county by kids and their teachers. Makes me all kinds of happy! The Guinness Book of World Records people were here to monitor the event, and the school system here now holds the record for most trees planted in a day and in a single hour. I hope this becomes a tradition and when they run out of space to plant trees at the schools, they can plant them elsewhere - places where there are erosion problems, etc. - and maybe things other than trees, like mangroves, sea grapes, and sea grasses along the bay and coast to help rebuild the estuaries in Tampa Bay and prevent erosion on the barrier islands, and go on field trips to study various ecosystems and maybe do clean-up projects. That would be cool...
Also all the public and charter schools in our county planted at least 38 trees given to them by the forestry service in honor of the 38th Earth Day. Nearly 6,000 trees (FTW! \o/) were planted between 11am - 12pm all over the county by kids and their teachers. Makes me all kinds of happy! The Guinness Book of World Records people were here to monitor the event, and the school system here now holds the record for most trees planted in a day and in a single hour. I hope this becomes a tradition and when they run out of space to plant trees at the schools, they can plant them elsewhere - places where there are erosion problems, etc. - and maybe things other than trees, like mangroves, sea grapes, and sea grasses along the bay and coast to help rebuild the estuaries in Tampa Bay and prevent erosion on the barrier islands, and go on field trips to study various ecosystems and maybe do clean-up projects. That would be cool...
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Baby Bathing Suit - All done!
Yay!! I've finished my niece's birthday present. She will be 1 year old in August, so also Yay! for not procrastinating for once.
It's a bathing suit/romper and matching hat. the colors are much brighter than they appear in this photo, but it's the best my camera phone would do...
Well, its finished except for the buttons to hold the straps and also the crochet around the arm and neck holes so that the knitting won't curl, which Susan will kindly do for me when I see her in probably less than a month. Because I might be able to do things like this with needles, but give me a crochet hook and I'm all thumbs!
The hat might need a simple crocheted string thing to tie under the chin, not sure. Because it looks like it won't stay on by itself, though I followed the pattern exactly. But that would be simple to do if necessary I think.
The pattern is here for those who might be interested. Sorry if you click and lionbrand won't let you look at it. They like people to sign up with for their mailing list before they let people into their patterns.
It's a bathing suit/romper and matching hat. the colors are much brighter than they appear in this photo, but it's the best my camera phone would do...
Well, its finished except for the buttons to hold the straps and also the crochet around the arm and neck holes so that the knitting won't curl, which Susan will kindly do for me when I see her in probably less than a month. Because I might be able to do things like this with needles, but give me a crochet hook and I'm all thumbs!
The hat might need a simple crocheted string thing to tie under the chin, not sure. Because it looks like it won't stay on by itself, though I followed the pattern exactly. But that would be simple to do if necessary I think.
The pattern is here for those who might be interested. Sorry if you click and lionbrand won't let you look at it. They like people to sign up with for their mailing list before they let people into their patterns.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Today was the greatest day of them all...
Okay, so maybe not, but that line from the Smashing Pumpkins song just went through my head when I was trying to think of a title for this post.
But.
Today was AWESOME! Just so you know...
I got to class. A major plus. Afterward I got together with Stacey and we went to the College of Education and got info on their Masters of Arts in Teaching programs in the fields we're interested in. It would be so amazing if she and I get to go through the MAT program together! I think neither of us would feel so alone doing that if we have each other.
After that, we got together with Mia for lunch in the Marshall Center (which is the Student Union), and very soon Chelsea joined us. I was so happy because I haven't seen any of them in months! Even though all of us, with the exception of Stacey, go to school there and are on campus just about everyday. You'd think we would see each other more, but no, we are all so freaking busy and our schedules completely conflict. So YAY!!! we had lunch, then went to the mall to get boba and chocolate (which might be why I'm so hyper now because chocolate turned into chocolate + candy and I's on a SUGAR HIGH right nao), and then Stacey had to head home so we said goodbye to her and then the rest of us headed to the used bookstore near school and moar fun tiemz ensued.
Came home, got my presents from Ilana, and finished Jensen's hat! YAY!!!! *runz arowwnd liek a crazy* (I told you - sugar LOL! *facepalm*) It only took me three days from when I cast on the stitches on Saturday...
Oh, and I has pikturez... Thank God for camera phones, 'cuz I still don't have the computer cable for my digital.
Looks way better on than it does not...
Yes, that is LOST on my tv in the background...
And the other side...
Has a neat little decreased top, it does... See the nice pattern:
And from the front... :D Tha's me...
This hat is so comfy. In my hands, it feels like it might be itchy because the wool is tough, not silky, but then when I put it on, it only feels warm and cosy, not at all itchy, not even on my ears. And if it's not itchy on me, I don't think anyone would find it so.
It's made out of 70% Corriedale wool and 30% mohair, handspun 2-ply that I made from roving from Yarns, Etc. in Greensboro. The hat pattern is the Cashmere Rib Hat by Jessica at Fig & Plum.
But.
Today was AWESOME! Just so you know...
I got to class. A major plus. Afterward I got together with Stacey and we went to the College of Education and got info on their Masters of Arts in Teaching programs in the fields we're interested in. It would be so amazing if she and I get to go through the MAT program together! I think neither of us would feel so alone doing that if we have each other.
After that, we got together with Mia for lunch in the Marshall Center (which is the Student Union), and very soon Chelsea joined us. I was so happy because I haven't seen any of them in months! Even though all of us, with the exception of Stacey, go to school there and are on campus just about everyday. You'd think we would see each other more, but no, we are all so freaking busy and our schedules completely conflict. So YAY!!! we had lunch, then went to the mall to get boba and chocolate (which might be why I'm so hyper now because chocolate turned into chocolate + candy and I's on a SUGAR HIGH right nao), and then Stacey had to head home so we said goodbye to her and then the rest of us headed to the used bookstore near school and moar fun tiemz ensued.
Came home, got my presents from Ilana, and finished Jensen's hat! YAY!!!! *runz arowwnd liek a crazy* (I told you - sugar LOL! *facepalm*) It only took me three days from when I cast on the stitches on Saturday...
Oh, and I has pikturez... Thank God for camera phones, 'cuz I still don't have the computer cable for my digital.
Looks way better on than it does not...
Yes, that is LOST on my tv in the background...
And the other side...
Has a neat little decreased top, it does... See the nice pattern:
And from the front... :D Tha's me...
This hat is so comfy. In my hands, it feels like it might be itchy because the wool is tough, not silky, but then when I put it on, it only feels warm and cosy, not at all itchy, not even on my ears. And if it's not itchy on me, I don't think anyone would find it so.
It's made out of 70% Corriedale wool and 30% mohair, handspun 2-ply that I made from roving from Yarns, Etc. in Greensboro. The hat pattern is the Cashmere Rib Hat by Jessica at Fig & Plum.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Hear my Squeals of Joy!!!
Yay!!! I got my wooly prize from Ilana today!! I danced around the living room looking for something to open the package with. And lo, what do I find upon opening? A lovely skein of lovely green Navajo churro wool, a wooly toy for my kitties and a bar of her yummy shampoo-body bar that she made not too long ago I think. *squeals of joy* The kitties are thusfar skeptical of the wooly toy, but I think it's too cute! The soap looks like a piece of candy, I think, and smells like yummy bread dough (I guess that would be the beer?). And the wool is just yummy! It is a single, I estimate at 188 yards. And I love the color! (What did you dye it with?) Kind of forest-y and mossy, and it changes subtly as I turn it around in the light. And it smells yummy too! Not sure what it smells like, but it's yummy...
Thank you so much, Ilana!!! *big hugs*
Also, my friend Phaedra now has a blogspot blog... It will be linked momentarily in the right-hand column.
And in other news, today was made of awesome! Because I got info on the MAT programs at school, had lunch with Stacey (and got my Supernatural Season 1 DVDs back from her after she had borrowed them and didn't give them back for four months - LOL!), Mia and Chelsea, and then went to the mall for boba and chocolate, then to a bookstore where fun ensued, only to come home to presents from Ilana, and then - to top it all off - I just finished Jensen's hat! (*squeals for joy*) Pictures will be up momentarily...
Thank you so much, Ilana!!! *big hugs*
Also, my friend Phaedra now has a blogspot blog... It will be linked momentarily in the right-hand column.
And in other news, today was made of awesome! Because I got info on the MAT programs at school, had lunch with Stacey (and got my Supernatural Season 1 DVDs back from her after she had borrowed them and didn't give them back for four months - LOL!), Mia and Chelsea, and then went to the mall for boba and chocolate, then to a bookstore where fun ensued, only to come home to presents from Ilana, and then - to top it all off - I just finished Jensen's hat! (*squeals for joy*) Pictures will be up momentarily...
Thursday, April 10, 2008
a meme...
never thought I'd be doing one of these here...
Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules.
3. Share a 6 word philosophy of life
4. Tag 3 other people
1. Ilana done it!
2. Rules.. see above.
3. 6 words? I don't think I can do it in 6 words... I've got one that's 5 words. Facere quod in se est. Do what is in yourself. But that's the best I think I can come up with...
3. Three people to tag... hmm... well, I don't really know anybody on blogger other than Ilana, who already tagged me, and Susan... So Susan! Tag! You're it!
Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules.
3. Share a 6 word philosophy of life
4. Tag 3 other people
1. Ilana done it!
2. Rules.. see above.
3. 6 words? I don't think I can do it in 6 words... I've got one that's 5 words. Facere quod in se est. Do what is in yourself. But that's the best I think I can come up with...
3. Three people to tag... hmm... well, I don't really know anybody on blogger other than Ilana, who already tagged me, and Susan... So Susan! Tag! You're it!
Ick...
I'm sick... I think I have the flu. Plus, my camera cord that hooks my camera to the computer for transferring of videos and pictures was stolen at the hotel. So I have to wait to get a new one to post all my EyeCon stuff. But never fear, I still had a wonderful time. I adored all the stars. They were all really lovely, kind, gracious people and we were so lucky that they were there. But I'm feeling light-headed, so that's it for now.
Here's one of my favorite videos of Sandy... when she talks about Jared's and her dog, Harley, and I think she also mentions their other dog, Sadie. No spoilers, and her candid kindness and sweetness really comes through in her answer to this question. Really, she's such a nice person! So glad she was there...
Here's one of my favorite videos of Sandy... when she talks about Jared's and her dog, Harley, and I think she also mentions their other dog, Sadie. No spoilers, and her candid kindness and sweetness really comes through in her answer to this question. Really, she's such a nice person! So glad she was there...
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Two things...
One... my kitty being adorable, sleeping in the laundry...
Two... I've spun a lot of the stuff I've bought recently, in particular that stuff that I bought for Jared and Jensen's hats.
I need help choosing now. I think that the gray for Jared's is out. The gray that I got, stupidly, is too coarse.
For Jared's I was thinking the green, and for Jensen's the blue-gray. I need help choosing what will go with it. I've got natural black, natural brown and natural white (which is more of a slightly off-white). I'm not sure if it will be for the stripes or for the main color. But let me know what you think...
For further visualization, these are some of the patterns that I'm considering using... The Chocolate and green ribbed hat, the 1x1 Rib Hat, the Watch Cap, and the Simple Ribbed Cap. There are others that don't have pictures. But these are basically the two types, those with fold-up brims and those without. Which do you prefer? Which do you think the boys would prefer? Either way, they will have stripes.
I'm also thinking of making one for Sandy, Jared's fiancee, just because... For her, I'm thinking something with cables... maybe in white? 'Cause wouldn't she look amazing (like she doesn't already!) in a white cabled stocking cap? Something like Anna of Green Cables maybe... Haven't really started looking for patterns for her yet...
That's all... *hugs everyone*
Two... I've spun a lot of the stuff I've bought recently, in particular that stuff that I bought for Jared and Jensen's hats.
I need help choosing now. I think that the gray for Jared's is out. The gray that I got, stupidly, is too coarse.
For Jared's I was thinking the green, and for Jensen's the blue-gray. I need help choosing what will go with it. I've got natural black, natural brown and natural white (which is more of a slightly off-white). I'm not sure if it will be for the stripes or for the main color. But let me know what you think...
For further visualization, these are some of the patterns that I'm considering using... The Chocolate and green ribbed hat, the 1x1 Rib Hat, the Watch Cap, and the Simple Ribbed Cap. There are others that don't have pictures. But these are basically the two types, those with fold-up brims and those without. Which do you prefer? Which do you think the boys would prefer? Either way, they will have stripes.
I'm also thinking of making one for Sandy, Jared's fiancee, just because... For her, I'm thinking something with cables... maybe in white? 'Cause wouldn't she look amazing (like she doesn't already!) in a white cabled stocking cap? Something like Anna of Green Cables maybe... Haven't really started looking for patterns for her yet...
That's all... *hugs everyone*
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Wheeee!
Today was Amaya's birthday... She is one of my kitties... Behold Her Cute-'n-Tiny-ness:
Also...
Went to the RenFaire this last weekend and the weekend before. Lots of v. interesting stuff... I've got hundreds of pictures. I wish I could post them all, but that's impossible. I will have to figure out what it is that I really want to share. There were hotties playing Human Combat Chess and the jousters were pretty in a young Aragorn kind of way too. There was craziness at the Washing Well Wenches Show, and Bunnies in Peril (it was a magic show). Food was nummy... All in all, it was a good couple of days.
Also...
Went to the RenFaire this last weekend and the weekend before. Lots of v. interesting stuff... I've got hundreds of pictures. I wish I could post them all, but that's impossible. I will have to figure out what it is that I really want to share. There were hotties playing Human Combat Chess and the jousters were pretty in a young Aragorn kind of way too. There was craziness at the Washing Well Wenches Show, and Bunnies in Peril (it was a magic show). Food was nummy... All in all, it was a good couple of days.
Monday, March 31, 2008
So... EyeCon is coming up...
I have so much to do before this weekend, OMG!
I will be sure to report back as much as possible... No laptop to bring with, so won't be able to do anything until Sunday night at the earliest.
Today...
* I got a haircut. It is super cute! OMG! I wish I could post pictures, but I suck at taking them of myself, so pics from EyeCon will no doubt show... as long as once I've washed it and styled it myself, the cuteness doesn't go phhhhhffffttt!
* I got a pedicure. With nail polish called "Jenson Beach Jade"... Yeah, it's not spelled like "Jensen," and yeah, he's not coming to EyeCon (of which I'm actually glad; I want the boy to go home and relax for the weekend, poor darling), and yeah, it's actually named after a real place somewhere in Florida (as are all the polishes by this company), BUT! It's called Jenson Beach Jade and I love it...
* I bought an extra memory card for my digital camera. I now can take 1800+ photos or 1.5 hours of video. FTW!
Still to do:
* homework
* picking out clothes (especially for the Platinum and PJ Parties!) and packing
* find and fix my slippers (the button fell off of one of them a few weeks ago)
* buying various sundry toiletries that I need to get anyway as I am out
* laundry
* decide what crafty things I'm taking with to keep my fingers busy and out of mischief
* I'm sure a lot of other things I'm not remembering right now...
I will be sure to report back as much as possible... No laptop to bring with, so won't be able to do anything until Sunday night at the earliest.
Today...
* I got a haircut. It is super cute! OMG! I wish I could post pictures, but I suck at taking them of myself, so pics from EyeCon will no doubt show... as long as once I've washed it and styled it myself, the cuteness doesn't go phhhhhffffttt!
* I got a pedicure. With nail polish called "Jenson Beach Jade"... Yeah, it's not spelled like "Jensen," and yeah, he's not coming to EyeCon (of which I'm actually glad; I want the boy to go home and relax for the weekend, poor darling), and yeah, it's actually named after a real place somewhere in Florida (as are all the polishes by this company), BUT! It's called Jenson Beach Jade and I love it...
* I bought an extra memory card for my digital camera. I now can take 1800+ photos or 1.5 hours of video. FTW!
Still to do:
* homework
* picking out clothes (especially for the Platinum and PJ Parties!) and packing
* find and fix my slippers (the button fell off of one of them a few weeks ago)
* buying various sundry toiletries that I need to get anyway as I am out
* laundry
* decide what crafty things I'm taking with to keep my fingers busy and out of mischief
* I'm sure a lot of other things I'm not remembering right now...
Saturday, March 29, 2008
So busy!
I don't know where this week went, but it's obviously gone now. I did horribly on my Latin test on Thursday. Probably worst grade of the semester (hopefully, will get no worse *knocks wood*). But I will not dwell on things I can't change now...
I went to the RenFaire last weekend, when it rained all day, but I did not care, and also again yesterday... My dad had gotten comp tickets from someone he knew through work and since I didn't get to buy anything while it rained (didn't want any of it to get wet), I wanted to go again before it ended for the year... This week, weather was perfect. Pictures will be forthcoming from both weekends as soon as they are uploaded.
I got a picnic basket and a fox tail... yes, an actual fox tail... yes, PETA would hate me... yes, I hate me a little for it too... but not enough not to get it from one of the leather workers... (Those were all the answers I gave to the questions my mom asked when she saw I had it.) *sighs* ... It's silver. And soft. And hangs off the back of my corset. I like. It's costume swag.
Picnic basket is for picnics at Hillsborough River State Park. Yay!
Other than that, been spinning and working on Sophie's birthday present way ahead of time. Got some of Jared's stuff spun. Ordered some green Corriedale and some gray super-fine Corriedale from coppermoose on ebay. It came a few days ago and I've been working away ever since. Will be nice. I like it a lot already. I think some of the gray will also be used as stripes for Jensen's hat.
Only one week left til EyeCon in Orlando. I'm going with Susan. Jared, his girlfriend Sandy, Samantha Ferris, Alona Tal, Jim Beaver, Chad Lindburg, and several other people from Supernatural will be there. Plus, a lot of Supernatural fans that I've met online from as far away as Australia. I'm very excited about it. There will be much rejoicing.
Still to do:
I have to pick out clothes and shoes... figure out what I'm wearing to the Platinum Party and the PJ Party especially. I need to find/fix my slippers. I also need a haircut and a pedicure... and figure out what crafty things I'm taking with to be working on... and an additional um... memory thing... for the digital camera would probably be wise in case I don't have any way to upload while there and take more than 651 photos... which is possible... it's almost three full days of fannish squee after all...
Also, behold:
Oh lord! I hate Dr. Phil!
I went to the RenFaire last weekend, when it rained all day, but I did not care, and also again yesterday... My dad had gotten comp tickets from someone he knew through work and since I didn't get to buy anything while it rained (didn't want any of it to get wet), I wanted to go again before it ended for the year... This week, weather was perfect. Pictures will be forthcoming from both weekends as soon as they are uploaded.
I got a picnic basket and a fox tail... yes, an actual fox tail... yes, PETA would hate me... yes, I hate me a little for it too... but not enough not to get it from one of the leather workers... (Those were all the answers I gave to the questions my mom asked when she saw I had it.) *sighs* ... It's silver. And soft. And hangs off the back of my corset. I like. It's costume swag.
Picnic basket is for picnics at Hillsborough River State Park. Yay!
Other than that, been spinning and working on Sophie's birthday present way ahead of time. Got some of Jared's stuff spun. Ordered some green Corriedale and some gray super-fine Corriedale from coppermoose on ebay. It came a few days ago and I've been working away ever since. Will be nice. I like it a lot already. I think some of the gray will also be used as stripes for Jensen's hat.
Only one week left til EyeCon in Orlando. I'm going with Susan. Jared, his girlfriend Sandy, Samantha Ferris, Alona Tal, Jim Beaver, Chad Lindburg, and several other people from Supernatural will be there. Plus, a lot of Supernatural fans that I've met online from as far away as Australia. I'm very excited about it. There will be much rejoicing.
Still to do:
I have to pick out clothes and shoes... figure out what I'm wearing to the Platinum Party and the PJ Party especially. I need to find/fix my slippers. I also need a haircut and a pedicure... and figure out what crafty things I'm taking with to be working on... and an additional um... memory thing... for the digital camera would probably be wise in case I don't have any way to upload while there and take more than 651 photos... which is possible... it's almost three full days of fannish squee after all...
Also, behold:
Oh lord! I hate Dr. Phil!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Sandy McCoy interview...
Sandy McCoy is quite possibly the most adorable human being on the planet! I want to have lunch with her at some cute sidewalk bistro somewhere and go shopping afterward. OMG!
(Beware that there are spoilers in the interview about season 3 of Supernatural [but only about episodes that have already aired in the US])
Interview can be seen here
*flails as I read the interview*
Also, I so know what her and Jared's "secret" is... I think... I'm 99.999% sure anyway... and will be completely shocked if I'm wrong...
EDIT March 29, 2:20 AM: There is a SPOILER-FREE continuation of the interview here. I flail... full-on... for example, at this:
[Question:] Captain Kirk vs Captain Jack Sparrow
[Sandy:] (She gasps) God! I’m a huge Johnny Depp lover, there’s no contest. Okay, maybe against Jean Luc Picard, because I did love Star Trek: The Next Generation but not Captain Kirk. That would be a toss up, because I love Patrick Stewart also, so that’s where the contest would lie, but Captain Jack Sparrow would still definitely win. How do you not look at him and be in awe. And not just because of his physical appearance, oh gosh, he’s not human. He can’t be. Johnny Depp cannot be human, so he’d win and I’d like to go on record saying that. Even Jared has a man crush on him. He’s great.
Also there is a link to the music video she's in right now... Yes, that's her, the first person you see when it starts playing...
(Beware that there are spoilers in the interview about season 3 of Supernatural [but only about episodes that have already aired in the US])
Interview can be seen here
*flails as I read the interview*
Also, I so know what her and Jared's "secret" is... I think... I'm 99.999% sure anyway... and will be completely shocked if I'm wrong...
EDIT March 29, 2:20 AM: There is a SPOILER-FREE continuation of the interview here. I flail... full-on... for example, at this:
[Question:] Captain Kirk vs Captain Jack Sparrow
[Sandy:] (She gasps) God! I’m a huge Johnny Depp lover, there’s no contest. Okay, maybe against Jean Luc Picard, because I did love Star Trek: The Next Generation but not Captain Kirk. That would be a toss up, because I love Patrick Stewart also, so that’s where the contest would lie, but Captain Jack Sparrow would still definitely win. How do you not look at him and be in awe. And not just because of his physical appearance, oh gosh, he’s not human. He can’t be. Johnny Depp cannot be human, so he’d win and I’d like to go on record saying that. Even Jared has a man crush on him. He’s great.
Also there is a link to the music video she's in right now... Yes, that's her, the first person you see when it starts playing...
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
it's a small kind of accomplishment...
I'm watching Pride and Prejudice. The A&E mini. I love it. *sighs*
I've also been working on knitting and spinning today.
I've plied the first of the silk/linen roving. I've got approximately 45 yards out of one ounce, 2-ply. If I keep to that rate, I'll get approximately 722 yards out of the pound I've got. Keep in mind that this is at only 8 to 10 wpi... so pretty good really, I think. This is the first time I've ever tried to spin something of a technically "bulky" weight, as well as the first time I've tackled anything other than wool, and it's a bit uneven, which is fine because that's actually kind of what I'm going for here. I wonder, however, how large a shawl I'll be able to make out of it. Big, do you think?
I'm also working on my niece's birthday present. I'll be giving it to my sister early because I want Sophie to be able to wear it as much as possible before she outgrows it, even though she will only be one in August and the size says it's 18 months (it seems to be a bit small as I'm knitting). I'm making this. I'm using Cotton-Ease and getting the gauge, so yay! I get to use up some of my stash! I've altered the stripes too, and will also be making the matching hat. It's in fuchsia and periwinkle blue. I've got the back done and the front perhaps 1/3 done. And I started on it on Sunday afternoon. I think she will be completely precious (not that she's ever not completely precious) in it.
I've also been working on knitting and spinning today.
I've plied the first of the silk/linen roving. I've got approximately 45 yards out of one ounce, 2-ply. If I keep to that rate, I'll get approximately 722 yards out of the pound I've got. Keep in mind that this is at only 8 to 10 wpi... so pretty good really, I think. This is the first time I've ever tried to spin something of a technically "bulky" weight, as well as the first time I've tackled anything other than wool, and it's a bit uneven, which is fine because that's actually kind of what I'm going for here. I wonder, however, how large a shawl I'll be able to make out of it. Big, do you think?
I'm also working on my niece's birthday present. I'll be giving it to my sister early because I want Sophie to be able to wear it as much as possible before she outgrows it, even though she will only be one in August and the size says it's 18 months (it seems to be a bit small as I'm knitting). I'm making this. I'm using Cotton-Ease and getting the gauge, so yay! I get to use up some of my stash! I've altered the stripes too, and will also be making the matching hat. It's in fuchsia and periwinkle blue. I've got the back done and the front perhaps 1/3 done. And I started on it on Sunday afternoon. I think she will be completely precious (not that she's ever not completely precious) in it.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Roving issues...
First of all, yes, I think the acid dye with the silk/linen will work just fine... I just have to figure out the exact color.
Now, then...
I love the ladies at Yarns, Etc. in Greensboro, but the gray wool roving I got is, on close inspection and in practice, unspinnable in its current state. I have every confidence that when I blend it with the alpaca I have from Ilana (as I've already blended a small amount and tried drafting it) that it will spin perfectly and be completely beautiful. It's wonderfully soft. Not the slightest bit coarse or itchy. I think I could wear it next to the skin even. The problem is that the drum carding didn't remove enough of the noils and vm to draft it as it is. Too many little tangled bits and burrs, and besides that it has A LOT of crimp, which makes it cling to itself and not draft easily at all... I don't have my own cards yet to fix it, only dog slickers, which are only good for processing and blending very small amounts of fiber (any quantity just takes too long and I keep hitting my fingers, causing small scratches and irritation that is so not fun). I don't want this to reflect at all ill on the rovings that the ladies at Yarns, Etc sell. This was an emergency purchase and they were so very kind to accommodate me and get me what I asked them for during a very busy time of year for them. Every other bit of roving I've ever gotten from them has been utter heaven to spin. I just can't use this roving for this particular project. Although I think later this summer it will make some beautiful yarn when I have time to deal with it properly.
So, I'm on a search of ebay for other roving. I just got some delicious silk/linen stuff from coppermoose (I've bought from him many times before and he has incredibly wonderful stuff at very reasonable prices and quick shipping) and I think I will try him first.
On the handcards front, after extensive researching the different brands, I'm thinking the Schacht handcards. (And OMG their wheels are BEAUTIFUL but so expensive, OMG!) They cost a little bit more than most, but not that much more, and they are US made of domestic hardwood, and seem to have a lot of good features for longevity that the others don't have. I need advice on whether the curved or straight ones are better, or what the advantages of each are. I have nowhere near me where I might try them out for myself. Also, the coarsest fiber I ever work with is Corriedale, everything else is stuff like Merino, Shetland, and alpaca... so 72 or 112 points? I know 72 is "all purpose" and 112 is for "fine fibers"... but what exactly constitutes "fine fibers"? Because I know things can get a heck of a lot coarser than Corriedale, and the 72 point hardcards work for that, so... hmmmm...
Now, then...
I love the ladies at Yarns, Etc. in Greensboro, but the gray wool roving I got is, on close inspection and in practice, unspinnable in its current state. I have every confidence that when I blend it with the alpaca I have from Ilana (as I've already blended a small amount and tried drafting it) that it will spin perfectly and be completely beautiful. It's wonderfully soft. Not the slightest bit coarse or itchy. I think I could wear it next to the skin even. The problem is that the drum carding didn't remove enough of the noils and vm to draft it as it is. Too many little tangled bits and burrs, and besides that it has A LOT of crimp, which makes it cling to itself and not draft easily at all... I don't have my own cards yet to fix it, only dog slickers, which are only good for processing and blending very small amounts of fiber (any quantity just takes too long and I keep hitting my fingers, causing small scratches and irritation that is so not fun). I don't want this to reflect at all ill on the rovings that the ladies at Yarns, Etc sell. This was an emergency purchase and they were so very kind to accommodate me and get me what I asked them for during a very busy time of year for them. Every other bit of roving I've ever gotten from them has been utter heaven to spin. I just can't use this roving for this particular project. Although I think later this summer it will make some beautiful yarn when I have time to deal with it properly.
So, I'm on a search of ebay for other roving. I just got some delicious silk/linen stuff from coppermoose (I've bought from him many times before and he has incredibly wonderful stuff at very reasonable prices and quick shipping) and I think I will try him first.
On the handcards front, after extensive researching the different brands, I'm thinking the Schacht handcards. (And OMG their wheels are BEAUTIFUL but so expensive, OMG!) They cost a little bit more than most, but not that much more, and they are US made of domestic hardwood, and seem to have a lot of good features for longevity that the others don't have. I need advice on whether the curved or straight ones are better, or what the advantages of each are. I have nowhere near me where I might try them out for myself. Also, the coarsest fiber I ever work with is Corriedale, everything else is stuff like Merino, Shetland, and alpaca... so 72 or 112 points? I know 72 is "all purpose" and 112 is for "fine fibers"... but what exactly constitutes "fine fibers"? Because I know things can get a heck of a lot coarser than Corriedale, and the 72 point hardcards work for that, so... hmmmm...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
